Automatic car coupler



Oct. 13, 1931. o. c. SHAFFER 1,827,621

AUTOMATIC CAR COUPLER Filed Oct. 7, 1927 Ora C J/QaffeY;

Patented Oct. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ORA C. SHAFFER, OF VAN WERT, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN A. ROBERTS, OF RAVENNA, KENTUCKY AUTOMATIC CAR COUPLER Application filed October 7, 1927. Serial No. 224,578.

My present invention pertains to couplers for freight cars, passenger cars and the like,

and it contemplates the provision of an extremely simple device through the medium of which freight cars and the like may be readily and easily coupled and uncoupled and this without liability of injury to the brakeman or other member of the train crew making the coupling or uncoupling.

The invention further contemplates the provision of a coupling device that securely retains the couplers of adjoining cars in locked position without fear of casual disconnection and yet the couplers are adapted to be'readily disengaged without the exertion of much eifort by a trainman.

Other objects of the invention will be fully understood from the following description and claim, when the same are read in connection with the drawings, accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 is a view showing two identically constructed couplers after the manner of my improvements and showing one of the couplers in side elevation and the opposlng one in section.

Figure 2 shows the couplers of Figure 1 locked with respect to each other.

Figure 3 is a view takenin the plane indicated by the line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the views of the drawings.

My novel improvements are adapted to be arranged in the Well known J anney type of coupler that comprises the body portion 1 of one coupler and the body portion 2 of an adjoining coupler. Pivoted to the member 1 at 12 is the jaw 3 and likewise pivoted to the member 2 at 13 is the jaw 4.

The elements so far described are well known in the art and form no part of this improvement, however in the body portion of each coupler, I provide a barrel or casing 5, and this casing 5 may be threaded or otherwise secured into the body portion. Adapted to be confined in the casing 5 is a pressure spring 7 and this spring is secured in the casing 5 at its upper end by means of the nib or projection 6 that bears against the upper end of the spring.

On the inner end of the pivoted jaw 4, for instance, I provide a nib or teat-member 14 that enters the lower end of the spring and is confined within the spring and acts to retain the lower spring portion in proper position on the inner end of the jaw. Adapted to enter the body portion of the jaw is a coupling pin 8 having the ring 9 mounted therein and on the lower end of the pin is the portion 10 that passes through the wall of the body portion. On the inner end of the jaw I provide a cut-out portion for an important purpose herein set forth.

In the practical operation of the invention when it is desired to couple two cars together, the pin 8 is raised so that the off-set portion of the pin will ride into the off-set portion of the pivoted jaw. The spring will hold the jaw in unlocked position. When the couplings of two opposing jaws strike each other, the said jaws will move inwardly to place the spring 7 under tension. The inner end of the pivoted jaw will ride inwardly and the pin will move oflt of the off-set portion of the jaw and of its own weight drop to its lowest limit of movement. This will automatically lock the jaws to each other and retain them in locked position. Lifting of the pin will automatically unlock the jaws due to the action of the spring against the jaws when the pin reaches the oflf-set portion of the jaws.

Manifestly the retaining means 6 will hold the spring at one end within the casing 5 and the nib 14 will hold the spring in proper position at its lower end.

Operation of the device for coupling and uncoupling of cars is at all times positive and the trainman in the coupling and uncoupling of the cars does not leave himself open to injury and the like which is prevalent with conplings at presentin use.

What I claim is A coupling, comprising a body portion, a jaw pivotally mounted therein and having an off-set portion arranged on the end of the jaw within the body portion, a nib formed intogral on the jaw and adapted to enter an opening in the body portion, a tubular member r I 1,827,621 r threaded in the aperture of the-body portion,. a spring adapted to surround the nib and to be confined in'the aperture of the body portion by -the tubular member, means formed in one end of the tubular portion and adapted toengage one end of the spring, acoupling pin adapted to enter a slot in the body portion and having an'ofi-set so constructed and arranged that by coacting With a portion of the jaw the spring is normallyiheld under I tension and further adapted,to release the tension of the spring by movement of the pin so as to rest in the corresponding ofi-se't portionof the body, substantially as a'ndfor the purpose specified.

,In testimony -Wh817e0ffl have-hereunto set my hand.

em 0. SHAFFER. 

